Blushing She Crab Soup with a Twist

Preheat oven to 440 degrees F.

Halve 18 of the grape tomatoes. In a baking dish pour in 1/4 cup olive oil. To that add banana peppers, and 1/2 of the tomatoes.

Mix to coat all with oil.

Sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon sea salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.

Bake uncovered (ideally in convection oven) until they start to brown (about 15 minutes).

In a pot heat 1/4 cup olive oil and add 1/3 cup finely chopped red onion, 1/4 teaspoon sea salt, natural brown sugar, 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper, 1/4 teaspoon course ground black pepper. Stir over high heat.

Add the remaining whole tomatoes and continue to mix until the tomato skins start to peal (about 4 minutes).

Pour entire contents of this pot into a blender. To this add cilantro, the roasted tomato mixture and chicken broth. Blend until fairly smooth (about 15 to 20 seconds).

Pour entire contents into pot, add 6 ounces of vegetable juice, bring almost to a boil and reduce to a simmer.

In a medium mixing bowl beat egg until it produces a light foam and beat in the lemon juice. To this add the remaining 6 ounces vegetable juice and beat again. Slowly mix in 1 cup of the hot soup. Take soup off the heat and slowly mix this mixture into the soup.

Add 2 tablespoons heavy cream and stir over medium heat until it starts to bubble.

Remove from heat.

In a skillet add 6 tablespoons butter, melt butter over medium heat, add 2/3 cup of finely chopped red onion and garlic.

Saute for about a minute and then add 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper and 1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper. Continue sauteing until the onions are soft and translucent. Then add crab boil seasoning and cream sherry. Turn heat up until mixture comes to a bubble then lower to medium heat and stir until it starts thickening to almost a light syrup consistency. Once it has thickened add crab base and make sure it is incorporated well. Then add 2/3 cup heavy whipping cream stir over medium to high heat until it starts to bubble. Then add 1 cup of crabmeat and mix well, once it comes to a bubble again remove from heat.

Add 1/2 cup of the tomato soup to bowl, to this add 2/3 cup of the crab soup, 1 tablespoon freshly grated Parmesan. And 1/4 teaspoon of the red lump fish caviar and mix well. Float a tablespoon of the crab soup in center

Grate some more Parmesan on top.

Add freshly ground black pepper, to taste, and serve

I like to garnish with blue crab claws sauteed in butter and cream sherry and or some caviar. When in season I like to use fresh crab roe.